Apparatus for suspending clothes



March 1934- N. A. RABELOS APPARATUS FOR SUSPENDING CLOTHES Filed Aug. 7, 1953 film/0405 9. R45 :2 05

l atentecl Mar. 27,

UNITED STATES APPARATUS FOR SUSPENDING CLOTHES Nicholas A. Rabelos, New Rochelle, N. Y., as-

signor to Itekelma Products, Inc., New Rochelle, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 7, 1933, Serial No. 684,075

9 Claims.

This invention relates in general to apparatus for suspending clothes or other articles for dryins, airing or similar purposes and more particularly has reference to a pulley and a fastener device for suspending a carrier and fastening clothes or the like to the carrier in such a manner that the carrier may be loaded at one point and moved so as to bring successive parts thereof to the loading point for the purpose of loading or unloading the apparatus.

In the past various devices have been constructed for the purpose of hanging clothes or the like, some of these having been adapted to be loaded from one point. These have generally consisted of a pair of spaced pulleys having a cord or cable passing around them. As the clothes or other articles have been attached to the cord or cable at one point, usually adjacent one of the pulleys, the successive portions of the line are brought to that point for loading by means of pulling the cord or cable through the two pulleys. In most of these previous constructions it has not been possible to move that portion of the line to which clothes have already been attached around a pulley. Various types of pulleys have been devised for the purpose of permitting the clothes to pass around the pulley, but difficulty has either been encountered in getting the clothes to pass freely around the pulley without fouling the pulley, or in providing a suitable guard for the pulley so as to prevent the line from leaving its proper position in the pulley wheel or from being easily replaced once it has been displaced from its proper position.

The principal object of this invention is, therefore, to produce a device which will eliminate the defects and disadvantages of the prior art. It is another object to provide a pulley which will form a proper and suitable guide and guard for the carrier or clothes line so as to prevent the same from leaving its track in the pulley under ordinary circumstances, and so as to enable the carrier to be pulled back into this track by a mere pull on the carrier without the necessity of reaching the pulley itself. It is an object that the guard portions of this pulley block shall be so formed as to guide the clothes or other suspended articles away from the pulley proper and prevent them from fouling with the pulley when they are being pulled around the pulley. The suspending means for the pulley is to be so all times in substantial alignment with the direction of pull on the carrier. Itis afurther object that this device shall be so arranged as to be produced in an inexpensive manner and yet so as to produce a durable, sturdy construction.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a means for suspending the clothes or other articles from the carrier in such a manner that when they are passed around a pulley made in accordance with this invention they will be guided by such suspending means out of contact with the pulley so as to further obviate any danger of fouling the pulley.

With the above and otherobjects in view, this invention consists of the parts andcombinations hereinafter set forth and claimed in the appended claims. It is to be understood that the following description and the accompanying drawing are by way of illustration only and are not to be taken as a limitation on the scope of this invention. 7

Referring now more particularly to the draw ing in which like numerals'indicate corresponding parts throughout:

Figure 1 is a view taken in elevation with parts broken away illustrating one embodiment of this invention in use. i V

Figure 2 is a plan view of one of the illustrated in Figure 1. s

Figure 3 is a similar view illustrating the bottom of one of these pulley blocks.

Figure 4 is a side view of one of these pulley blocks, parts being shown in section.

Figure 5 is a front end view of the pulley block illustrated in Figures 2 to 4 inclusive.

Figure 6 is a view illustrating one of the fastening devices shown in connection with the carrier'in Figure 1.

In the practice of this invention, an endless carrier 1 is provided for the purpose of supporting a plurality of fasteners or clips 2. These clips are adapted to secure the clothes or other articles to the carrier so that they may be suspended therefrom. The carrier itself may be formed of a length of material having its ends tied together as at 3, and is supported by means of two or more pulleys which will now be described.

With reference to Figure 4, it will be seen that the pulley wheel consists of a hub 4, an inter-- mediate flange 5, and an outer or circumferential sheave 6. This sheave 6 is preferably of semicircular cross section and of a suitable size for pulley blocks receiving the carrier 1. The pulley wheel is suparranged that the plane of the pulley will be at ported between two guard plates 7 and 8 respectively by means of an axle member 9 which may be formed integral with the upper guard plate 7. The lower end of this axle member is formed with *tener is provided with one long l and this leg a squared portion 10 which is somewhat smaller than the axle portion 9, thus forming a shoulder between the squared portion 10 and the axle portion 9. This shoulder is designated in Figure 4 by the numeral 11. After the guard plate 8, which is provided with an opening adapted to fit the squared portion 10 has been placed over the squared portion in its proper position, the end of the squared portion is then riveted or headed over as at 12 for the purpose of securing the lower guard plate 8 permanently in position.

Both of the guard plates '7 and 8 extend circumferentially beyond the sheave portion 6 of the pulley wheel and have their outer marginal portions flared outwardly at 13 and 14 respectively in such a manner that they form a continuation of the side walls of the sheave 6 and thus in effect form a trough tending to guide the carrier 1 into the sheave at all times. The upper flared portion 13 as will be seen in Figure 2 extends only along that portion of the pulley which is adapted to come in contact with the carrier. The lower flared portion 14 however is substantially wider than the upper flared portion and extends a considerable distance past the extremities of the upper flared portion so that these extensions will serve to receive the carrier as it approaches the pulley and guide it properly into the groove of the pulley. At the same time, it will serve to fend off the clothes or other articles suspended by the carrier and prevent them from fouling between the pulley and the guard plate 8.

' The fasteners 2, previously mentioned, consist of a strip of material which is preferably .non-metallic and resilient. This strip is so bent as to form a loop 15 and a pair of depending legs 16 and 1'7 respectively of unequal length. The legs 16 and 17 are curved so that the leg 16 which is the'longer of the two is disposed adjacent the .concaved surface of the leg 17. The lower end of the leg 17 iscurved slightly away from the leg 16 so as to enable the fastener to be easily placed over or around the carrier 1 in securing the clothes or other articles in position. It will be seen that because of the fact that this fasis curved, if this fastener is placed on the carrier so that the concaved side will come in contact with the pulley when the carrier is moved .,about.thepulley, the fastener will come in contact with the lower flared portion 14 of the lower guard plate 8 and will be moved outwardly so as to move the suspended articles and guide them out of contact with the side edges of the pulley sheave and prevent them from becoming fouled between the pulley wheel and the guard plate.

Referring now to the upper guard plate, this plate is provided with a supporting arm which extends from and forms a continuation of the flared portion 13 and which is then curved at 18 so as to dispose its end 19 substantially in the farther from the portion 13 until the curved portion 18 is relatively narrow. I

It will be seen that since the end portion 19 is disposed substantially at the central plane of the pulley wheel, the pulley will also align itself with the direction of pull upon the carrier and there will be very little tendency for the carrier 1 to run off or out of its groove or sheave 6 in the pulley wheel. If for any reason the carrier becomes slack or loose, it will not drop out of the pulley because of the fact that the weight of the pulley will cause it to swing down about the hook 21 and the carrier instead of dropping will slide into contact with the curved portion 18 of the supporting arm. In the event that this takes place, it is a very simple matter to merely pull upon the carrier, thus straightening out the pulley block so that the pulley will align with the carrier. The carrier will then slide along the curved portion 18 of the arm and be guided by the widening portion of the arm and by the upper flared portion of the guard plate until it will naturally slide into its proper position in the pulley.

It will be seen from the above that a device has been constructed for carrying out all of the objects of this invention, and that the said device is likewise constructed so as to enable it to be manufactured with the least amount of labor and expense. It consists of but three parts which are of such shape as to be more or less easily formed in casting, and are so designed that they may be assembled and properly finished with a minimum of labor and expense.

What I claim is:

1. In a pulley block for supporting a portion of an endless carrier, an upper guard plate, a lower guard plate, an axle member integral with the upper guard plate and having a reduced, squared portion adjacent its lower end, said lower guard plate having a squared opening receiving said squared portion of the axle member and being secured thereon, a pulley wheel mounted on said axle member between said plates, each of said plates having marginal portions outwardly flared adjacent the outer circumference of the pulley to form a trough to guide the endless carrier into the pulley, the flared portion of the upper plate extending substantially along that portion of the pulley which is to be in contact with the endless carrier, and the flared portion of the lower plate being wider than the flared portion of the upper plate and extending along and a substantial distance beyond that portion of the pulley which is to be in contact with the endless carrier, whereby said lower flared portion will extend past and form a guide for the incoming carrier and articles suspended therefrom and hold those articles from fouling be.- tween the lower side of the pulley and the lower guard plate, and a curved supporting arm on said upper guard plate forming an extension of the flared portion of the upper plate and gradually decreasing in width from said plate toward its free end, the free end of said arm being perforated to receive a suspension means and being disposed adjacent the central plane of the pulley wheel.

2. In a pulley block for supporting a portion of an endless carrier, an upper guard plate, a lower guard plate, an axle member integrally mounted on the upper guard plate and having a reduced non-circular portion adjacent its lower end, said lower guard plate having an opening formed to receive said reduced non-circular portion of the axle member and being secured thereon, a pulley wheel mounted on said axle member between said plates, each of said plates having marginal portions outwardly flared adjacent the outer circumferenceof the pulley to form a trough to guide the endless carrier into the pulley, the flared portion'of the upper plate extending substantially along that portion of the pulley which is to be in contact with the endless carrier, and the flared portion of the lower plate being wider than the flared portion of the upper plate and extending along and a substantial distance beyond that portion of the pulley which is to be in contact with the endless carrier, whereby said lower flared portion will extend past and form a guide for the incoming carrier and articles suspended therefrom and hold those articles from fouling between the lower side of the pulley and the lower guard plate, and a curved supporting arm on said upper guard plate forming an extension of the flared portion of the upper plate and gradually decreasing in width from said plate toward its free end, the free end of said arm being perforated to receive a suspension means and being disposed adjacent the central plane of the pulley wheel.

3. In a pulley block for supporting a portion of an endless carrier, an upper guard plate, a lower guard plate, an axle member integrally mounted on the upper'guard plate and having a reduced non-circular portion adjacent its lower end, said lower guard plate having an opening formed to receive said reduced non-circular portion of the axle member and being secured thereon, a pulley wheel mounted on said axle member between said plates, each of said plates having marginal portions outwardly flared adjacent the outer circumference of the pulley to form a trough to guide the endless carrier into the pulley, the flared portion of the upper plate extending substantially along that portion of the pulley which is to be in contact with the endless carrier, and the flared portion of the lower plate extending along and a substantial distance beyond that portion of the pulley which is to be in contact with the endless "carrier, whereby said lower flared portion will extend past and form a guide for the incoming carrier, and articles suspended therefrom, and hold those articles from fouling between the lower side of the pulley and the lower guard plate, and

a curved supporting arm on said upper guard plate forming an extension of the flared portion of the upper plate and gradually decreasing in width from said plate toward its free end, the free end of said arm being perforated to receive "a suspension means and being disposed adjacent the central plane of the pulley wheel.

4. In a pulley block for supporting a portion of an endless carrier, an upper guard plate, a lower guard plate, an axle member integrally mounted 'on the upper guard plate and having a reduced non-circular portion adjacent its lower end, said lower guard plate having an opening formed to receive said reduced non-circular portion of the axle member and being secured thereon, a pulley wheel mounted on said axle member between said plates, each of said plates having marginal portions outwardly flared adjacent the outer circumference of the pulley to form a trough to guide the endless carrier into the pulley, the flared portion of the upper plate extending substantially along that portion of the pulley which is to be in contact with the endless carrier, and the flared portion of the lower plate extending along and a substantial distance beyond that portion of the pulley which is in contact with the endless carrier,

whereby said lower flared portion will extend past and form a guide for the incoming carrier and articles suspended therefrom and hold those articles from fouling between the lower side of the pulley and the lower guard plate, and a curved an extension of the flared portion of the upper plate and gradually decreasing in width from said plate towardits free end, the free end of said arm being formed to receive a suspension means and being disposed adjacent the central plane of the pulley wheel.

5. In a pulley block for supporting a portion of an endless carrier, an upper guard plate, a lower guard plate, an axle member integrally mounted on the upper guard plate and having a reduced non-circular portion adjacent its lower end, said lower guard plate having an opening formed to receive said reduced non-circular portion of the axle member and being secured thereon, apulley wheel mounted on said axle member between said plates, each of said plates having a marginal portion outwardlyflared adjacent the outer circumference of the pulley to form a trough to guide the endless carrier into the pulley, the flared portion of the upper plate extending substantially along that portion of the pulley which is to be in contact with the endless carrier, and the flared portion of the lower plate extending along and a substantial distance beyond that portion of the pulley which is in contact with the endless carrier, whereby said lower flared portion will extend past and form a guide for the incoming carrier and articles suspended therefrom and hold those articles from fouling between the lower side of the pulley and the lower guard plate, and a curved supporting arm on said upper guard plate forming an extension of the upper flared portion, the free end of said arm being formed to receive a suspension means supporting arm on said upper'g'uard plate forming and being disposed adjacent the central plane of g the pulley wheel.

of an endless carrier, an upper guard plate, a lower guard plate, an axle member integrally mounted on the upper guard plate and having a reduced non-circular portion adjacent its lower end, said lower guard plate having an opening formed to receive said reduced non-circular portion of the axle member and being secured thereon, a pulley wheel mounted on said axle member between said plates, each of said plates having a marginal portion outwardly flared adjacent the outer circumference of the pulley to form a trough to guide the endless carrier into the pulley, the flared portion of the upper plate extending substantially along that portion of the pulley which is to be in contact with the endless carrier, and the flared portion of the lower plate extending along and a substantial distance beyond that portion of the pulley which is in contact with the endless carrier, whereby said lower flared portion will extend past and form a guide for the incoming carrier and articles suspended therefrom and hold those articles from fouling between the lower side of the pulley and the lower guard plate, and a curved supporting arm on said upper guard plate, the free end of said arm being formed to receive a suspension means and being disposed adjacent the central plane of the pulley wheel.

'7. In a pulley block for supporting a portion of an endless carrier, an upper guard plate, a lower guard plate, an axle member integrally mounted on the upper guard plate and having a reduced non-circular portion adjacent its lower end, said lower guard plate having an opening formed to receive said reduced non-circular portion of the axle member and being secured thereon, a pulley wheel mounted on said axle member between said plates, each of said plates having a marginal portion outwardly flared adjacent the outer circumference of the pulley to form a trough to guide the endless carrier into the pulley, the flared portion of the upper plate extending substantially along that portion of the pulley which is to be in contact with the endless carrier, and the flared portion of the lower plate extending along and a substantial distance beyond that portion of the pulley which is in contact with the endless carrier, and a curved supporting arm on said upper guard plate, the free end of said arm being formed to receive a suspension means.

8. In a pulley block for supporting a portion of an endless carrier, an upper guard plate, a lower guard plate, an axle member integrally mounted on the upper guard plate and extending between and securing said guard plates together in spaced relation with respect to each other, a pulley wheel mounted on said axle member between said plates, each of said plates having an outwardly flared marginal portion disposed adjacent the outer circumference of the pulley to form a trough to guide the endless carrier into the pulley, the flared portion of the lower plate being of greater extent than the flared portion of the upper plate, and a curved supporting arm on said upper guard plate, the free end of said arm being formed to receive a suspension means.

9. In a pulley block for supporting a portion of an endless carrier, an upper guard plate, a lower guard plate, an axle member rigidly mount ed on the upper guard plate and extending between and securing said guard plates together in spaced relation with respect to each other, a pulley wheel mounted on said axle member between said plates, said plates having marginal portions disposed adjacent the outer circumference of the pulley, the marginal portion of said lower plate being flared away from said pulley to guide said carrier into the pulley and to guide articles suspended from the carrier around the pulley, and a curved supporting arm on said upper guard plate, the free end of said arm being formed to receive a suspension means.

NICHOLAS A. RABELOS. 

